July will be two years that this 1958 Chevrolet 4400, "Thor," has been in my care. The previous owner, Victor "VFW" Walters had him for about 11 years and amassed 350 miles during that time. I have added just over 150 miles to that in the past year.
So, I thought it was about time that I started a DITY on my Big Bolt. 
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Chapter One:
Love at First Sight!
I started the morning as I usually do: a cup of coffee and a cruise through the forums on the Bolt. This one particular morning, there was something different in the
Stovebolt Swap Meet: a listing for a 1958 Chevrolet 4400 1.5-ton Grain Truck. While I didn’t need another project (do any of us
), this truck was different. I have an affection for Task Force trucks, more so for the four eyed versions. There in all his glory was “Thor” a hand painted, four eyed, beastly! LOVE! While I don’t believe in such things (love at first sight and so on), there it was just staring back at me from the screen.
The current owner, Victor "VEW" Walters, a long time Stovebolter, had decided it was time to thin his herd a little and “Thor” as he had named him, was being offered up for sale. The price wasn’t bad at $3,000 but I just couldn’t justify another project.
Victor laid out his reasoning for letting Thor go: too many projects, too little time. We all know the story, many of us have projects with the same fate looming over them. Victor was different in that he wanted to be sure the truck went to a good owner -- an owner that would continue to use Thor as a truck and not chop it up or slam it to the ground. Someone who would respect the heritage that came with the truck and add to its lineage. Victor had laid out his demands.
Somethings just nag at you, like that itch you can’t reach. I went through the morning, the image of Thor now burned into my brain. I shared the picture (now saved on my phone) with a couple of close friends. Both of these fellows thought I had lost all sense and was in need of therapy. Therapy, yeah that was what I needed! The type of therapy that this hulking truck could bring.
Later at home, I shared my excitement with my wife. Showing her the picture was less than magical. She looked at me and said, “So.” She could see the gears had begun to turn. I told her that while I thought the truck was COOL, I didn’t need another project. Looking back, I really don’t think she believed me. And so the week went on. I looked each morning and it was still there.
There was a fateful event one morning: Victor had dropped the price!!
While $3,000 may not have been enough to coax me into negotiations, $2,500 certainly was.
At home I told the Love of my Life that the price had dropped. "The price of what?" she asked. It was a blow to my ego that the woman I loved had forgotten about the truck. I refreshed her memory; she looked at me and said, “And...” She told me that if I wanted it, I should buy it. It was, after all, my money. The clouds parted and I could hear the angels sing! With that I knew I had to have this truck.
The next morning I sent a private message to Victor. I indeed wanted the truck and was willing to meet his price. I waited not so patiently for his response. It didn’t come that day nor the next. The morning of the third day I had a response and a phone number.
I called Victor and found that he was willing to sell me Thor. Seems that he had done some background investigations on me. He wanted to know just what type of owner I was going to be. Thor deserved a good owner or as I see it caretaker, someone who would treat the truck with care and respect. I suppose I fit the mold. At one point, I even dropped Alvin’s "Achipmunk" Parris' name (Stovebolt Moderator and founder of the
Southern Bolters), not really sure if that helped. But for now the deal was done!
